GB2353442A

GB2353442A - Storage and playing of relatively long ringing tune

Info

Publication number: GB2353442A
Application number: GB0013787A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tamami Ichihashi
Original assignee: NEC Corp
Current assignee: NEC Corp
Priority date: 1999-06-15
Filing date: 2000-06-06
Publication date: 2001-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-06
Also published as: US6603985B1; GB0013787D0; AU4083600A; GB2353442B; AU768031B2

Abstract

The invention enables the storage and playing of a relatively long ringing tune by using two or more storage areas to store the tune, each area being of fixed capacity. A storage area of fixed capacity 113a, 113b or 113c may normally be provided to store a relatively short tune A, B or C, selectable for repeated playing when an incoming call is detected. The invention allows the storage of a longer tune comprising A1, A2, A3 without having to increase the storage capacity required for an individual short tune A, B, or C. In the invention, which is suitable for a mobile communication apparatus, a ringing tune is stored in first and second areas, each having a fixed storage capacity. Upon reception of an incoming call, the ringing tune stored in the first area is played and following a determination that the playing of the ringing tune corresponding to the storage capacity of the first area is completed, the ringing tune stored in the second storage area is automatically played (fig. 1). An end code SC may be provided at the end of a tune and upon detection of the end code, the tune is repeated from the beginning.

Description

2353442 RINGING TONE CONTROL METHOD AND DEVICE The present invention

relates to a ringing tone control method and device, which is particularly suitable for, but not limited to use with, a mobile communication apparatus and which originates and terminates calls by t ransmitt ing/ receiving radio waves and sounds a tune upon the reception of an incoming call.

In a previous proposal, as a ringing tone to be sounded by a portable telephone upon the reception of an incoming call, a ringing beep tone, ringing tune, or a single original ringing tune is used. As a method of controlling these ringing tones, the method shown in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings has previously been proposed.

Referring to Fig. 5, if a ringing beep tone is selected as a ringing tone to be sounded upon the reception of an incoming call by a user in a ringing tone mode, a ringing beep tone is sounded in response to an incoming call to the portable telephone (steps S51 to S53).

If a ringing tune is selected as a ringing tone, the ringing tune is sounded in response to an incoming call to the portable telephone (steps S51, S521 S54, and S55) When the sounding of the ringing tune is completed (step 2 S56), the flow returns to step S55 to restart the ringing tune sounding operation, thereby continuously sounding the ringing tune.

If a single original ringing tune is selected, the single original ringing tune is sounded in response to an incoming call to the portable telephone (steps S51, S52, S54, and S57). In sounding the single original ringing tune, if a memory is not f illed to capacity with the single original ringing tune, the end of the ringing tune is determined upon the detection of an end code or the absence of intermittent ringing (step S58). In this case, the flow returns to step S57 to restart ringing tune sounding operation, thereby continuously sounding the single original ringing tune.

If the memory is filled to capacity with the single original ringing tune, the sounding operation is performed up to the end of the single original ringing tune (step i). Thereafter, the flow returns to step S57 to restart the single original ringing tune sounding operations, thereby continuously sounding the single original ringing tune.

As may be seen from Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings, when the user is to generate an interrupt for speech communication while the ringing beep tone, the ringing tune, or the single original ringing tune is sounded, he/she operates a start key to stop the ringing tone (steps S61 and S62), and then performs speech communication (step S63).

3 In the previously proposed method of controlling ringing tones referred to above, however, since a ringing tune is sounded by repeatedly sounding a short phrase, a ringing tune with a long phrase cannot be sounded. In sounding a single original ringing tune, since the number of notes that can be stored in the memory is limited to a memory capacity corresponding to one tune, a single original ringing tune with a long phrase cannot be obtained. As in the case of a ringing tune, therefore, a single original ringing tune with a short phrase is repeatedly sounded.

A feature of an arrangement to be described below, by way of example in illustration of the present invention for providing a ringing tone control method and device for a mobile communication apparatus, is that it is able easily to sound a tune consisting of a large number of notes without increasing the storage capacity for one tune.

In a particular arrangement to be described, by way of example in illustration of the present invention, there is provided a ringing tone control method for a mobile communication apparatus, which includes the steps of storing a ringing tune in certain units in first and second areas each having a fixed storage capacity, sounding the ringing tune stored in the first area upon reception of an incoming call, determining whether sounding of a ringing tune corresponding to the storage capacity of the first area is completed, and 4 automatically sounding the ringing tune stored in the second area if the determination result indicates the end of the ringing tune.

Arrangements illustrative of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. Figs. 5 and 6 relate to previous proposals.

In the drawings:- Fig. 1 is a f low chart showing a ringing tone control operation of a portable telephone.

Fig. 2 is a f low chart showing an interrupt operation during the sounding of a ringing tone in Fig. 1, Figs. 3A and 3B are views each showing how tunes are stored in a storage section in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a block schematic diagram of a portable telephone for performing a ringing tone sounding operation referred to in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a f low chart showing the ringing tone control operation of a previously proposed telephone, and Fig. 6 is a f low chart showing an interrupt operation during the sounding of a ringing tone in the arrangement of Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 4, a portable telephone serving as a mobile communication apparatus includes a control section 106 for controlling the overall portable telephone and an operation section 107 which is connected to the control section 106 and has operation keys for performing various operations of the portable telephone- The control section 106 includes a detection section 106a for detecting the end code of a tune and a determination section 106b for determining the end of a tune corresponding to a storage capacity. With the operation section 107, a iiser inputs an original ringing tune as well as predetermined characters and symbols A radio section 108 comprised of a transmission section 101, reception section 102, multiplexer 103, and antenna 104 is connected to the control section 106. The control section 106 controls the radio section 108 to transmit /receive radio signals, and also perfoxms termination control upon recept3-on of an incoming call. A signal processing section 105 for performing signal processing of a speech signal is connected to the radio section 108- A microphone 109 for inputting speech, a receiver 110 for outputting speech, and a sounder 111 for outputting a ringing tone including a ringing beep tone, ringing tune, and original ringing tune are connected to the signal processing section 105. The operation of the signal processing section 105 is controlled by the control section 106.

A ringing tone generating section 112 for generating a ringinq tone is connected to the' control section 106- The ringing tone generating section 112 6 has a storage section 113 formed by a RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a ringing tone, ringing tune, or original ringing tune is stored. As shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, the storage section 113 has a fixed storage capacity, and includes first to third areas 113a to 113c for storing an original ringing tune/ringing tune in certain units or individually storing original ringing tunes/ringing tunes.

Fig. 3A shows a case wherein tunes AI, A2, and A3 constituting one original ringing tune A are separately stored in the first to third areas 123a to 113c. In this case, the first and second areas 113a and 113b are filled to capacity with the tunes AI and A2. In the third area 113c, an end code SC is added to the end of the stored tune A3.

Fig. 3B shows a case wherein three original ringing tunes/ringing tunes A, E, and C are individually stored in the first to third areas 113a to 113cIn the f lirst to third areas 113a, to 113c, end codes SC are respectively added to the ends of the stored ringing tunes A, B, and C.

Note that ringing tones and ringing tunes are stored in the storage se ction 113 in advance at the tirne of shipment of the portable telephone. The original ringing tunes A (A1 to A3), B, and C are stored in the storage section 113 by inputting notes constituting tunes using the numeral keys and function keys of the 7 operation section 107.

Ringing tone control operation by the control section 106 will be described next with reference to the flow charts of Figs. 1 and 2. A case wherein the original ringing tune A constituted by the tunes Al to A3 is stored in certain units in the storage section 113, as shown in Fig. 3A, will be described first.

Referring to Fig. 1, when the portable telephone receives an incoming call, the control section 106 checks whether a continuous sounding mode for an original ringing tune is selected by ringing tone setting (steps Sl and S2). If the continuous sounding mode is not selected, the control section 106 performs control to repeatedly sound the ringing tone, ringing tune, or original rxnging tune stored in the storage section 113 (step S3). The processing in step S3 is the same as that in the prior art in Fig. 5-

If it is determined in step S2 that the continuous sounding mode fox the original ringing tune is selected by ringing tone setting, the control section 106 starts sounding the tune Al stored in the first area 113a of the storage section 113 (step S4)- The control section 106 then checks the presence/absence of the end code SC during the sounding of the tune Al on the basis of an output from the detection section 106a (step 55). If the end code SC of the tune Al is not detected, the determination section 8 106b of the control section 106 checks whether the sounding of the tune Al is completed (step S6) That is, the determination section 106b checks whether the tune AI stored in the first area 113a to capacity is sounded to the last. If it is determined that the sounding of the tune A1 is not completed, the processing in steps 55 and S6 is repeated.

If the end of the tune Al is detected in step S6, the control section 106 starts sounding the tune A2 stored in the second area 113b (step 57). That is, the control section 106 determines that the tune A1 is stored in the first area 113a to capacity, and the tune A is interrupted at the end of the tune Al, and continuously sounds the tune A2.

The control section 106 then checks the presence /absence of the.end code SC during the sounding of the tune A2 on the basis of an output f rom the det ection section 106a (step 58). If the end code SC of the tune A2 is not detected, the determination section 106b of the control section 106 checks whether the sounding of the tune A2 is completed xestep S9). If the sounding of the tune A2 is not completed, the processing in steps S8 and S9 is repeated.

If the end of the tune A2 is detected in step S9, the control section 106 starts sounding the tune A3 stored in the third area 113c (step S10). That is, the control section 106 determines that the; tune A2 is stored in the second area 113b to capacity, and the tune A is interrupted at the end of the tune A2, and continuously sounds the tune A3.

While the tune A3 is sounded, the control section 106 repeatedly checks the pre s ence /absence of the end code SC (steps S11 and 512) - If the end code SC of the tune A3 is detected in step S11, the determination section 106b of the control section 106 determines that the tune A having the tune A3 as the last phrase is completed. The flow then returns to step S4. With this operation, the original ringing tune A constituted by the tunes AI to A3 is repeatedly sounded.

If the end of the tune A3 is detected in step S12, the flow also returns to step S4. If the end code SC of the tune A2 is detected in step SS, the control section 106 also determines that the tune A constituted by the tunes AI and A2 is completed, and the f low returns to step 54.

A case wherein"the tunes A to C are individually stored in the storage section 113 as shown in Fig- 3B will be described next.

If it is determined in step S2 that the continuous sounding mode for the original ringing tune is selected by ringing tone setting, the control section 106 starts sounding the tune A stored in the first area 113a of the storage section 113 (step 54).

The control section 106 then checks the pre s ence /absence of the end code SC of the tune A (step SS). If the tune A is -not stored In the f irst area 113a of the storage section 113 to capacity as shown in Fig. 3R, the end code SC of the tune A is detected. In this case, the control section 106 determines that the tune A is completed. The flow then returns to step S4 to restart sounding the tune A.

When one of the tunes B and C stored in the second and third areas 113b and 113c is to be sounded as a ringing tone, one of the second and third areas 113b and 113c may be selected as an area to be accessed in step S4 by setting operation.

In the above embodiment, tunes constituting an original ringing tune are separately stored in the three storage areas 113a, 113b, ahd 113c. However, tunes constituting a longer original ringing tune may be separately stored in four or more storage areas. If, for example, 10 storage areas, each having a storage capacity corresponding to 50 notes, are prepared, a first original ringing tune consisting of a maximum of 300 notes and constituted by tunes to be continiiously sounded, which are stored in six storage areas, and a second original ringing tune consisting of a maximum of 200 notes and constituted by tunes to be continuously sounded, which are stored in four storage areas, may be selectivelv used.

In the above embodiment, the detection section 11 106a detects the end code of each tune. Instead of this operation, however, the detection section 106a may detect intermittent ringing of each tune. In this case, if an output from the detection section 106a indicates the presence of intermittent ringing in step S5, S8, or S11, the flow advances to step S6, S9, or S12. Otherwise, the flow returns to step'84.

Fig. 2 shows an interrupt for speech communication while a ringing tune or original ringing tune is sounded.

Referring to Fig. 2, after the user stops a ringing tone by operating the start key (steps S21 and S22), he/she performs speech communication (step S23).

As has been described above, the original ringing tune A can be provided in a perfect form by continuously sounding the tunes Al, A2, and A3 stored in the storage areas 113a, 113b, and 113c of the storage section 113.

Even if, for example, only 50 characters, i.e., 50 notes, can be stored as one tune in each of the storage areas 113a, 113b, and 113c of the storage section 113, a tune consisting of 150 notes is divided into 50-note tunes, and these tunes are separately stored. In this case, a 150-note tune can be continuously sounded unlike the previous proposals in which a ringing tune with a short phrase consisting of 50 notes is repeatedly sounded. This makes it possible to use a tune three times longer than that in the previous proposals as a ringing tune without increasing the capacity of one storage area.

12 In addition, according to the method of continuously sounding tunes, when the end of a tune is recognized without the detection of any end code, the next tune is automatically sounded. This makes it easy to continuously sound one original ringing tune without producing any interruption.

In addition, when the end code of a tune is recognized, the sounding of the tune is restarted from the beginning. Therefore, the original ringing tune which is stored in certain units in a plurality of storage areas can be repeatedly sounded.

It will be understood that, although particular arrangements have been described, by way of example, variations and modifications thereof, as well as other arrangements, may be conceived within the scope of the protection sought by the appended claims.

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Claims

1 A ringing tone control method which is suitable for use with a mobile communication apparatus, including the steps of storing a ringing tune in certain units in first and second areas each having a fixed storage capacity, sounding the ringing tune stored in the first area upon the reception of an incoming call, determining whether the sounding of a ringing tune corresponding to the storage capacity of the first area is completed, and automatically sounding the ringing tune stored in the second area, if the result of the determination indicates the end of the ringing tune.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of detecting an end code added to the end of the tune stored in the first area, wherein the step of automatically sounding includes automatically sounding the ringing tune stored in the second area when the sounding of the ringing tune stored in the first area has stopped without the detection of the end code.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, including the step of automatically sounding the ringing tune stored in the first area when the end code is detected.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the 14 step of stopping the sounding of a ringing tune when a communication is started while the ringing tune is being sounded.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of detecting the intermittent ringing of the ringing tune stored in the first area, wherein the step of automatically sounding includes automatically sounding the ringing tune stored in the second area when the sounding of the ringing tune stored in the first area is completed while intermittent ringing is detected.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 including the step of sounding the ringing tune stored in the first area again when no intermittent ringing is detected.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of stopping the sounding of a tune when a communication is started while the tune is being sounded.

8. A ringing tone control device which is suitable for a mobile communication apparatus, including storage means having first and second areas, each area having a fixed storage capacity, in which a ringing tune is stored in certain units, and control means for sounding the ringing tune stored in the first area upon the reception of an incoming call, and automatically sounding a ringing tune stored in the second area when the sounding of the ringing tune corresponding to the storage capacity of the first area is completed.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control means includes determination means for determining whether the sounding of a ringing tune corresponding to the storage capacity of the first area is completed.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the device includes detection means for detecting an end code added to the end of the tune stored in the f irst area, and the control means automatically sounds the ringing tune stored in the second area when the sounding of the ringing tune stored in the first area is completed without the detection of the end code by the detection means.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control means sounds the ringing tune stored in the first area again when the end code is detected by the detection means.

12. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control means stops sounding a ringing tune when a communication is started while the ringing tune is being sounded.

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13. A method as claimed in claim 1 substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A ringing tone control device as claimed in claim 8 substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.